tarboat's photos with the keyword: chatterley whitfield

A reminder of the ventilation arrangements for the Chatterley Whitfield Colliery is the fan evasee which is adjacent to the Walker fan house of 1938. The Walker 'indestructible' fan was replaced by an Aerox fan of significantly greater capacity in 1965.

Disused baths building at Chatterley Whitfield colliery.

The Platt upcast shaft at Chatterley Whitfield Colliery was completed in 1883 and named after one of the company directors.

The Winstanley shaft at Chatterley Whitfield colliery has an unusual brick heapstead. The shaft was commenced in 1913 as part of works to improve ventilation after a gas explosion in 1912. The shaft is 5 yards in diameter and 235 yards deep. It was named after the Company's mining engineer Robert Winstanley. The heapstead and winding engine house are constructed entirely of brick; a design adapted from the German 'Malakoff' towers, though Chatterley-Whitfield's version lacks the ornamentation and fortified appearance of those in the Ruhr area. Nevertheless, it is probably unique in British coalmining. It was here that vistors descended into the workings when the museum was open.

The forests continue to overwhelm the rusting remains of Chatterley Whitfield Colliery.

The Winstanley shaft at Chatterley Whitfield colliery has an unusual brick heapstead. The shaft was sunk in 1914 and is 235 yards deep. It was here that vistors descended into the workings when the museum was open.

The Hesketh shaft at Chatterley Whitfield Colliery was the last to be sunk on the site (1914-1917) and the deepest at 640 yards.

The Hesketh shaft at Chatterley Whitfield Colliery was the last to be sunk on the site (1914-1917) and the deepest at 640 yards.

The Hesketh Pit of Chatterley Whitfield colliery forlornly awaits its fate. The shaft was sunk in 1914 although the colliery dates back to 1863. The colliery closed in 1976 and the subsequent mining museum folded in 1993. There seems little hope that funding will ever be found to conserve the structures that are rapidly decaying.

The Hesketh shaft at Chatterley Whitfield retains its steam winding engine but the steelwork is in terrible state after years of neglect.

Remnants of the lamp room at Chatterley Whitfield Colliery. A far cry from what it was, even when the underground tours were running.

A contraband warning still attached to the steelwork at the airlock entrance to the Platt Shaft at Chatterley Whitfield colliery.

Still rusting away are the mortal remains of the Chatterley Whitfield Colliery. This view is from the planted up spoil tip.

Chatterley Whitfield colliery continues to rot away behind the security fences. I took a walk to the top of the spoil heap today and arrived just in time for the sun to break through. There is a so-called 'Friends' group, but their performance has been less than impressive. Their website remains stuck in 2010 and I have never, ever, received a reply from them to emails submitted asking questions about their work and open days. This is not the way to gather support for a project that needs every friend it can get. Best viewed original size .

The Hesketh Pit of Chatterley Whitfield colliery forlornly awaits its fate. The shaft was sunk in 1914 although the colliery dates back to 1863. It is 32 years since the colliery closed and 15 years since the mining museum closed. There seems little hope that funding will ever be found to conserve the structures that are rapidly decaying.